FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 2

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

MR.

T. O. BISHOP’S

VIEWS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, February 11. In an address at a Rotary Club luncheon, Mr. T. O. Bishop, Secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, said that wheh the rest. of the world, particularly the more important industrial countries, was prepared to adopt measures of reform, which would mean increased leisure, Now Zealand would be prepared to pay its part. He remarked that he would not like it to be thought that the attitude of the employers’ delegates at the last. Genevit- Conference (at which conference he was a delegate)- was one of active hostility to the reduction of hours as a general principle. “It was because the employers’ delegates were greatly concerned at the difficulties which would be imposed upon them, mainly in their export markets, by increased costs attendant upon a reduction of hours, that they have steadily opposed the adoption of a general convention at the successive conferences,” said Mr. 'Bishop. “On the general question bf the application of the 40-hour week as the means of reducing unemployment, I personally am/convinced that the beneficial effect would be comparatively slight, and, at best, temporary; because an artificial stimulation of mechanisation would counteract it. The only effective method of using shorter working time to relieve unemployment is to shorten the (working life.”